Rotary engine.



J. T. CASE. DECD.

a. e. BALDWIN, ADMINISTRATOR.

v ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 24. 1916.

Patented Dec. 18, 1917.

If 5 SHEETSSHEET 1. e7 I l 675 1.51 as- 7o.

J. T. CASE, DECD.-

R. c. BALDWIN, ADMINISTRATOR. ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 24. ms.

Patented Dec. 18, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. T. CASE, DECD.

n. e. BALDWIN, ADMINISTRATOR.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24. ms.

1,250,430. Patented Dec. 18, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

J. T. CASE. DECD.' R. e. sum-1m. ADMINISTRATOR.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION men APR. 24. 1916.

1,250,430. Patented Dec. 18, 1917.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

e-- ae fave/2 Tan" 1. T. CASE. DECD. R. 6. BALDW IN, ADHUHSTRATOR. ROTARY ENGINE.

I APPLICATION FILED APR. 24' l9l6- 1,250,430.

'5 SHEETS-SHEET s.

T 'L/ZJ 2 Patented Dec. 18, 1917.

V Tocll whom it mag conoermfi N Be it knownthatl, J OEL TIFFANY CASE,

' JOEL TIFFANY A alcitizenof the. United" States, residing at .Bristol, in the county of Hartford and State j of,Co11necticut,[have invented. certain newj, vand.usefulImprovements in Rotary En- ,gines, of which the. following is a specifica ztion. I My invention relates to improvements inrotary engines, and the object of my im- 'prove'ment is simplicity and economy in con struction and. convenience and ,efficiency inj use, and. the. same involves :in part: certain;

features of construction an d operation shown and described in my Patent No. 612,191, Oct.

1 y In the accompanying drawing proved rotaryenginevv Figurejl is'a'sideclevation of my im- Fig..2 1s a plan v1ew;of thesame. Fig. .3 isan endelevationzof the same... Fig. 4 isa sectional view, .onan enlarged scale,-on the line of Fig. 2.", I

Fig. 5r-isan; endfelevation of the steam; chest I :member, 1 the position of the pistons being indicated, by. broken lines.

.Fig. 6, is an elevation of the, cylinder member, as viewed from the inner side, and the piston posltloned tl1e16l1'l.:.

member. a jFig. .10 is asimilar view .of fof the piston member.

Fig. 9 is an end Fig. 11 is an end elevation;{correspond ing. to Fig. 5, of the'cylinder used withthe piston member shown? in Fig. 10.

-Fig. 12 is a sectional view on the .line a u of Flg. 2 and onthe same scaleasaFig. 4.

. Fig. 13 is a fragmentary. sectional view Ionthe line '0 *v, oflthe said Fig. 2.

" the line to 'w of Fig.4. I,

My improved rotary englne-comprises a three part casing composedof; a-cylinder member 10 at each end and a steam,.chest'i= a piston 12' housed in, eachof-thecylinder i Fig. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view on member ll interposed between the same, and

memberslO; the two pistons 12 being-mountedon a. commonshaft 18 and disposed angu-;-. larly. at ninety degrees the one from th other,

Pg 7 is a sectlona'lview'onth'e line as of.

ion 12.

a. modification r Bnis'rot; coNniiorIcUT; R; eoiinon :KDMINIS- anemones-sa l). JOEL ,1. CASE, DECEASED. f I

i *fBo'rAaY ENGINE.

I Specification ofietters Patenti De c is," Application filednpril 24, 1916. .Seria1N o.3,158. i

The cylindermember 10. is builtg of parts, comprising the inner part 1.4: and'the i o'uter part 15; a The inner part-14 is a; generally flat structure, having parallel end ,fa'oesand a length from eface-to face-corree spending to the desired thickness of the piston 12,.having acircular. bore 16 that serves asthe cylinder .propen; the exterior crosssection being rectangular and approximately square, and also-having at; the top-andbottom a plurality of perforations 17. extend- ,ing entirely through the/structure, that serves as. connecting passages forfhesteam .Ej acketing.

j At diametrically opposite. portions of the the pivotal pin 21, and supportingby. .the other endthe abutmentproper 22, the latter gextending generallyinwardly from the supporting arm '20, suitably to be. projectedinto.

. the cyhnder space 16. The abutment proper 22 has a curved outer face 23 for the. greater part of .IlZSdOIIgth-MKl attheinner. end is -;provided with an outwardly extending .toe 24 which serves to provide a steam pressure a. V surface for. holding the abutment infien- Fig. 8is a sectional view corresponding to a: Fig. .4, with the parts indifferent positions; elevation ofv the piston gagement with the peripherybf the pis- Q The recess 18011 the side remote from the pivotal pin 21 is a good fit for theopposed face. of the abutment 22;- compo-sed. 'o'fthe curved surface 23 and the toe 24.; 'On the is connected through suitable passages 26 in the end walls of thesteam chest member 11 with the. exhaust chamber Theinner part 14 of the cyllnder member .10. is closed on the'inner faceby the steam .chest'member lland on the onter'face by:

withe outer part-15.-

[Thesaidouter. part15 fits against the opposed face of the inner part 14, has an axial bore. 28 thatfits. thefshaft;13vand serves as a extendedoutwardly through a boss; 29. and

has. at: the innerend aniannular -;enlarge menti30; for housingia hub extension on the piston- 12; The "body? wall of the bnte'r; part :15 is: iof. 2 proper. thickness too I-provid'e for.

- abutment-s 22 and tend to push the same inwardly into the cylinder space, the said devices being partially housed in cap extensions 78 that are mounted on the lateral wall of the inner part 14.

The steam chest member 11 consists of the upper body portion that fits against the opposed inner faces of the cylinder members 10 and a lower extension 36 in which are housed steam control devices to be described, and is built up of two main parts. The said parts comprise the frame member 37 and the closing member 38. The frame member 37 comprises in one piece the lower extension 36 at the lower end, a wall 39 extending upwardly from one side thereof and serving as one of the endwalls of the body portion, and at the upper end the top wall 40. The closing member 38 comprises a hub portion 41 that extends axially through the steam chest structure and has an axial bore 42that fits the shaft 13, and at one end of the said hub portion 41 has a flange-like structure 43 that fits within the frame'memberl,1 suitably to complete the second end wa The interior structure of the steam chest member comprises the followingfeatures: An annular space 44 is provided between the cylindrical periphery 45 of the hub portion 41, which serves as the inner wall, and the opposed cylindrical wall 46 of a division wall 47, the latter being structura-llya part of the frame member 37, the said space 44 being usually supplied with live steam and serving as the steam chest.

The space 48 between the division wall 47 and the exterior wall is cored out and serves normally as the exhaust chamber.

At the top there are cross passages 49 that register with the'passages 17 and cooperate therewith in eflecting the steam jacketing and at the lower end are passages 50 that coiiperate similarly with the lower passages 17 and which also open into the steam cylinder 51 of the steam control devices.

The exhaust ports 26 in the end walls of the steam chest'member 11 already men tioned open into the exhaust chamber 48.

The live steam ports consist of two sets of passageways for each cylinder, comprising 3 the cylindrical periphery 45 and connecting with cross-passages 53 that extend through the steam chest structure 11 from end to end.

a A governor-controlled cutoff ring 54 fits over the cylindrical periphery 45 of the hub vportion 41 and is rota-tively mounted thereare sufiicient in number in each group to serve as extended passages.

The steam control devices comprise a cylinder 51, already mentioned, provided in the lower extension 36 of the steam chest member 11, connected as shown at the lower side and at the middle thereof with the inlet port 59, and connected on the upper side with the steam chest proper 44 by a port adjacent one end of the said cylinder 51 and connected adjacent the other end thereof with the exhaust chamber 48 by the passage or port 61. The cylinder 51 extends'appreciably beyond the ports 60 and 61 on each side and the two end portions arecross-connected by longitudinal passages 62. As shown there is a plurality of the longitudi nal passages 62, and these are straight passages, terminating in the end walls 63 of en largements 64 of the cylinder 51.

The enlargement 64 at one end is closed by a fitting 65 suitable to connect with the exhaust pipe and the enlargement at the other end is closed by a stuffing-box structure 66, suitable for operatively receiving the valve stem 67.

Connected to the valve stem 67 is a piston valve of duplex construction, comprising a head 68 at the extreme inner end that fits the cylinder 51 and a second, generally similar head 69 separated therefrom longitudinally by the space 70.

The spacing of the heads 68 and 69 is such that when the valve is in the central position one of the said heads covers the port 61 from the exhaust chamber 48 and the other covers the port 60 leading to the steam chest 44, so that when the valve is movcd toward one end or the other'of the cylinder 51 so as to uncover the said ports 61 and 60 one of the said ports will be connected to the space 70 between the heads 68 'and'69 and through the same to the live steam supply inlet 59 and the other will be connected to one of the'ends of thecylinder. 5]..and thence to the exhaust, either directly or through the longitudinal passages 62-.

nected to the exhaust.

The piston 12'is generally oval in shape. In detail the periphery thereof compr1ses a cylindrical portion 71 at'each end extending over an appreciable arc and fitting the Wall of the cylinder 16' and relativelyflattened portions '72 at the sides and separated from' the walls of the cylinder'16 by a crescent shaped space on each side to which space steam is admitted' for operating the piston. The means for admitting steam to the cylinder 16 comprise a port at each end portion of the'piston 12, 'the said port comprising an inlet opening 7 3 in the side wall that registers with thecross perforations or passages 53 leading from the steam chest 44,

an outlet Tat in the peripheral wall of the piston 12, adjacent the junctionjof thecylindrical portion 71 and the flattened portion 72, and a connecting passage 7 5 of any suitable form. The inlet'73 is preferably elongated in the direction of revolution and the outlet 7% may be composed of a pluralityof adjacent openings, each of which is connected to the inlet 73. l In themodification' shown in Figs. 10 and ll'the piston 12 is round and the cylinder 16 has the oval. shape, and the abutments 22-v are housed in recesses 18 in the piston 12, after. the manner of one of the styles shown and described in the' patent referred to. v

In both styles of operation it will be noted that asingle piston valve serves to give coin plete control of the steam supply, whereby the steam is either shut off or is supplied for operation in either direction. The live steamports for normal operation, withthe ports in the piston body connected tothe steam chest for live steam supply are positioned to permit steam to enter just as the cylindrical portion of the piston 7 passes the abutment. Then as steam enters and the'piston turns the ports pass out of registration 'and the steam operates expan sively until the outer end of the piston uncovers the side passage or recess back of the abutment, and the sameis connected to the steam space of the cylinder, whereby the said steam spaceis connected to the exhaust. The live steam portsmentioned are of, liberal dimensions, so that the actual control of the steam supply is determined by the governor ring, responsive to the action of the governor, the latter being of any suit able type. As the governor ring is shifted more or less of the unperforated portion is positioned over the radial ports 52 and thus serve to regulate the steam supply.

As shown the steam j acketing consists of two endless passages extending in parallelism around the entire and opening into the valve chamber 51, suitably to be supplied with live steam. Furthermore, as the valve chamber51 andthe live steam inlet are at the bottom there willbe ample drainage for condensation in the steam jacketing, l

The fact that the two pistons are posi tioned in ninety degree relation insures that one or the other is always off thecenter and is in position for operationjso, that the engine will always be ready tofstart.

The feature of having the steam chest interposed betweentwo pistons as described insures a balancing of the pistons, so'that the piston structure is always in condition to run freely, without binding or undue pinching. f

Fig. 4 shows, the parts in position for normal operation, the space 14 that serves the steam chest being connected with the live steam supply and the space e8 that serves as the exhaust chamber being conpiston valve isiinterposefd between thesaid port a'nd'the steam supply 1 connection" 59 the latter being at the middlelof, the steam chest structure. Thus the exhaust extends or flows outwardly from the port 60through the valve chamber 51 into the valve chamber enlargement 64 that'houses the valve stem 67 and thence flows longitudinallythitough the passages 62 to the second enlarged space 64, the'latter being open to the exhaust;

By providing the enlargements 64 at the ends of the valve chamber proper 51 the passages 62 that connect the said enlarge- Inents are made straight, as shown," and the same can be provided in plurality, also'as shown. I 5 I Thus a specifiddescription ofthe, course of the steam in entering the cylindersand exhausting therefrom while the engine is operating in its reverse or abnormal direction, with the reversing valve in the position shown in Fig. 8 is as follows The steam enters by way of the steam sup ply connection 59 to the portion of the valve chamber 51 between the valve heads 68 and 69, and travels thence through port 61 to the exhaust chamber 48, thence through the end wall passages 26 in the two lateral walls of the steam chest member 11 to the, recesses 18 in which the abutments 19 are housed, and is admitted from the recesses 18 to the cylinders 16 to one side of the abutment proper 22, and acts on the pistons 12. From the cylinders 16 the steam is periodically admitted by Way of the connecting passages 7 5 in the pistons 12 to the cross perforations 53 in the hub portion tl, and thence through the radial perforations 52 in the said hub portion 41, and through the'radial passages or openings 55 in the cut-off ring 5% to the live steam chamber 4H and thence through the port and the left end portion of the valve chamber 51 as shown in Fig. 8, to the valve chamber enlargement 6% at the left side, thence through the longitudinal passages 62 to the enlargement 61f at the right side, and finally to the exhaust passage provided in the fitting 65.

As described, provision is made for operating my engine in either direction, and the control for the direction of operation is effected by suitably adjusting the piston valve.

I claim as my invention 1. A rotary engine comprising a pair of cylinder members each having a cylinder, a steam chest interposed between the said cylinder members, pistons housed in each of the said cylinders and mounted on a common shaft, the said steam chest member having a steam chest and an exhaust chamber, the end Walls of the said steam chest member having ports that connect the said steam chest and exhaust chamber with the said cylinders, and a valve chamber on one side of the said steam chest member having ports connecting with the said steam chest and exhaust chamber and also having an inlet and an exhaust port and a valve for interconnecting the said ports.

2. A rotary engine comprising a structure having a cylinder at each end, a steam chest member in the middle, and an extension at the lower end of the said steam chest member having a valve chamber, the said structure having a passage extending through the wall portion at the top, sides and bottom, and opening into the said valve chamber.

3. A rotary engine comprising a structure having acylinder at each end, a steam chest member in the middle, an extension at the lower end of the said steam chest member having a valve chamber, the said steam chest member having a steam chest connected to the said valve chamber and an exhaust chamber also connected to the said valve chamber,

and the said structure having a steam-jacket passage that is connected to the said valve chamber.

4. A rotary engine comprising a steam chest member and a cylinder adjacent thereto, the said steam chest member having anannular steam chest, and ports leading from the said steam chest to the said cylinder having openings in the inner wall of the said steam chest, and a governor ring rotatively mounted on the said inner wall, having a limited rotative movement and having perforations suitable for being brought into registration with the said openings.

5. A rotary engine comprising a steam chest member and a cylinder adjacent thereto, the said steam chest member having an annular steam chest, and ports leading from the said steam chest to the said cylinder having openings in the inner wall of the said steam chest, a governor ring rota= tively mounted on the said inner wall, having a limited rotative movement and having perforations suitable for being brought into registration with the said opening, and means engaged with the periphery of the said ring for rotating the same.

6. In a rotary engine comprising in co1nbination a pair of cylinders, a steam chest member, a piston structure operatively housed in each of the said cylinders, a common shaft for the said piston structures, the said piston structures having a relative angular displacement on the said shaft of 90 degrees, and each comprising a pair of similar diametrically opposed eccentric portions that serve as pistons proper, and the said steam chest member being interposed between the said cylinders, having end walls in abutment with the said piston structures, having a steam chest and an exhaust chamber, and also having ports in the said end walls connecting the said cylinders with the said steam chest and exhaust chamber, whereby means are provided for effecting both balanced rotative movement relatively to the said shaft and balanced end thrust relatively to the said piston structures and the end Walls of the said cylinders.

JOEL TIFFANY CASE.

Vitnesses:

R. W. EDwARns, E. E. HARDY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

